Juana Tamale
Mexican restaurant · East Passyunk Crossing
1941 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148
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Highlights
Birria tacos, ramen, and churros in a colorful, exciting space
Birria tacos, ramen, and churros in a colorful, exciting space
"Some people believe that tacos and fries are perfect any time of the day. By some people, we mean us. Apparently, the team at East Passyunk’s Juana Tamale does, too. The taqueria serves their signature tacos, burritos, and birria everything, but also has brunchier options, like breakfast tacos on handmade masa tortillas that come with a side of crisp hash browns, buttermilk horchata pancakes topped with whipped cream, and jalapeño and salsa loaded fries.. The neon-colored space might not be the ideal scene if you had a long night at the bar, but the chilaquiles con tamal are fantastic. So order a bunch and wear your shades." - alison kessler, candis mclean
"This is the second taqueria featured on this list. But there’s no taco-burger hybrid here—this one is an all-out, five-ounce beef burger. At this Mexican restaurant on East Passyunk, they top the Juanaburger with crunchy onions, american cheese, and a sweet and smoky chili jam that does just enough to cut through the rich meat. You can add fries for $3, which obviously you should do." - candis mclean
"Juana Tamale makes great birria tacos, but they also use the stewed beef in ramen with mounds of queso and an oniony consomme that we drench everything in. With all the piles of melty cheese in the ramen, it has super gooey strands each time you get a forkful. And the queso birria taco that comes with each order has corn tortillas that are flavorful from being cooked on the same grill as the meat and crispy enough to sop up the broth without losing any of their texture." - alison kessler, candis mclean
"Juana Tamale in East Passyunk has a Thanksgiving deal to get behind: free beers (first come, first serve). Outside of the drinks, there will be a classic platter with turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. And for people who've had their fill of turkey, there's a Mexican spread of bean, rice, tamales, macaroni salad, and tortillas with salsa." - candis mclean
"In a city where it seems like everyone is doing birria everything, it really means something to be the leader of the pack. After our extensive search, there is no question that East Passyunk’s Juana Tamale makes the best birria tacos. The housemade tortillas are stuffed with an unforgettable stew of spicy, savory, tender beef and salty Oaxaca cheese. Then, they’re fried until crisp, and served with a velvety consomme of onions, chiles, and adobo sauce. It’s a huge bonus that the restaurant feels like it was designed by Punk Rock Barbie, but if neon purple graffiti isn’t your thing, the tacos still will be." - alison kessler
